I would be interested in one of the business oriented classes. I didn’t see a description so I am not sure which would be better for me at this stage of my career. I think I would lean towards the running business smoothly with systems. I met you at the SAQA/SDA conference in Philadelphia where I bought one of your small pieces in your gallery show. Thanks for considering me for this generous offer.
Jill

Your offer really caught my attention. Over the years I’ve taken classes at many places with many teachers. Taking your class on working in a series will settle me down to make a “Dean” art quilt rather than a copy or adaption of a quilt teachers type of work.
I’d definitely like to take your class because having seen your work and reading what you have to say about art quilts I think we’re both on the same wave length about making art. TIA

Lisa, this is SUCH a generous offering. I’m attuned to these things now as I buried my partner last month and my living expenses have doubled. I am interested in your Business of Art class in the summer, you have so much to teach – I have always admired the way you marketed your work and tackled the business aspect of your artistic career. Now I have a need.

Artwise, the fall design class would be another choice for me. I’ve heard your art workshops are superb.

I’m a longtime abstract piecer and I’ve recently become fascinated with the combination of fabric with encaustic. I’ve just begun this journey with textiles and wax and would love to continue it through your Working in Series class. Thank you for your generous offer.

I’m quite interested in your course: Get Your Art Business running smoothly with Systems. I know what I want, am able to make goals, have things going fairly well with my teaching career – but lack discipline. As soon as I have a free moment I end up wasting it. Or perhaps – I have so few free moments that doing nothing during them is simply resting. I don’t know.

I have been following your blog for quite awhile now and I was exciting when you starting the online classes (as that is how I have to take most of my classes these days). I have been eyeing the “Exploration of Formal Design Problems I: Design Elements”. Right now, in my pursuit of growing as an artist, I have decided to reeducate myself. Studying the principles and elements of design for a solid foundation to then produce my artwork.

I am very interested in Working In A Series, in the Fall Session. I am a member and a student in several groups, involving challenges, critiques and mentoring to help explore, evolve and expand my fiber art and quilting techniqus.
I believe my work ethic, my skill level and my technique are usually on point and successful. My problem is pushing that subject matter, storyline or design to he next level. Once I have met a particular challenge, I want to know how to create more work based on that subject, story or design.
I would appreciate participating in your free online course and believe that this is an element missing from my portfolio. Thank you for the opportunity.

(I just wrote out this mini-essay and may have sent it already, but I’m going to rewrite it and send it again. Apologies if there’s redundancy.)
You may remember that I had to take a break from your Methods course because my knee “blew out.” Well, I’m home, back from surgery with a brand new Knee, and am working on regaining my stamina and strength.
I’d like to throw my name into the “free workshop” hat; I’d be delighted to be in any of the course offerings online, and to reconnect with you as my teacher.
Sue

Hi Lisa,
I got intrigued by this offer and I love to take you abstraction or working in a series class. I have been keeping track of you for a while and I admire your inner strength and persistence. I would be thrilled and fortunate if I get picked to hang out with you in this virtual world. I will be fine to work in any medium.
Looking forward! Thanks, Neela

Thanks for the chance, Lisa. I hear your courses are jam packed and amazing, so it’s hard to pick one. Your abstraction course would be my first choice–it would be worth spending a good chunk of the summer on it. But either of the business development classes would be a close second, since I need help in that area at least as much:)

Hi Lisa,
I would love to join your abstraction class this year.
Doing the working in a series class with you has opened me
to see myself and how I do view my art completly differently. All for the better.I find my art wanting to be more astract but I would love to have the understanding and insights you provide. I feel this course would give me the tools to expand into new areas and my series work would be enhanced.

Thank you for such a generous offer.
I have followed your art for awhile and really enjoy your writings and art process.
I have decided to immerse myself in online classes, as being in NZ it’s seldom we get textile artists I’d like to learn from.
the class I’d like to aim for (and being selected for this offer will be a huge bonus :) ) Is working in a series – as I like to start something and in my mind I create the series but in reality I make or design 1 – get bored or ?scared? at the thought of doing more and going deeper. This usually freezes me and then I stop producing all together.
I feel the push of your class will show me a well trodden path along this journey so that next time when I get stuck – I’ll just whip out your steps and be able to continue.
Thank you again for your offer to us all.

Give-aways were my standard for years. Up to 60 small art pieces per year. Now, with the desire (and need) for added income, the drive for increased artistic merit, and community spirit, I’m VERY excited about the possibility of your Working in a Series II, Lisa. I think it will help me shape a cohesive and recognizable body of work that will appeal to me and to clients through tutorials, discussions and critiques and your many homework assignments. In other words, to move my work from “kitchen art” to “gallery art”. Thanks for the opportunity to think this through and apply!
Susan

Lisa–this is an outstanding offer. It brought a smile to my face as I read your post. Thanks for offering this opportunity.

The last time I felt like I was creating the best work–there was this sweet mixture of focus, accountability and consistency at the easel that birthed a series of watercolors l loved. The feedback from collectors, other artists, and my own heart let me know that a new level of creating had emerged. An opportunity to push again is one I long for.

The class offering that I have reviewed multiple times is the “Working in a Series”. And so the class I would desire to take is the “Working in a Series II”. There are three reasons why I’d like to take this class: opportunity to “create the best work”, a chance to learn new mindsets, and a new window of time to work on my “Women in Seasons” series.

Lisa, in your class details, you talk about “mindsets” such as the ‘Power of Habit’ and the ‘Poverty and Growth’ Mindset. I would like to take the “Working in a Series II” to unpack this material with you and the rest of the class. Having that much time to get my head on straight would bring a new level to my work. I just know it!

Lastly, working on my “Women in Seasons” series would bring me joy. In January, I typed up a 3 page summary of watercolors and oils about ordinary women in the autumn and winter seasons of life. The goal was to raise awareness of their everyday beauty. Having the support that I believe will be found in this class is so key to my creating more art.

This class would help my art career, because before I can market or expose my work, I must have my best work. The chance to focus intensively on my studio practice would mean growth in creating and maintaining better studio habits. Yes! I would grow by leaps and bounds.

There’s an old line that writing about music is like dancing about architecture. I’ve always thought that scenario was oddly charming. Although it seems ridiculous to dance about stone, wood and concrete, it also seems wonderful to celebrate the energy, life and creativity that goes into the environments we build for ourselves.

In fiber art, I am striving to capture the same thing: the energy, life, creativity, beauty and sometimes the travesties that humans infuse into the environments we create. It’s both a fabulous and frustrating challenge, but one that keeps me fascinated. It has pushed me to learn more about art, stretch beyond my preconceptions of designs, and brave critiques of my work.

I’m still in the early stages of this venture and eager to learn and grow. I think your Abstraction class could be a profound learning experience for me. I love that this class sounds rigorous, requires discipline and bravery, and pushes into topics like ‘exploring mindsets.’ I am striving to foster an ability to crystallize a core message about a topic in an abstract design that is fresh and compelling. The Abstraction class sounds like it focuses precisely on that challenge.

I’m not surprised that you have thrown us another curve ball. That is what I most enjoy about following your art career; you constantly challenge yourself to find new ways to explore being an artist, teacher and business person.

I have gleaned so much from Alyson Stanfield on the business end of art. It would be nice to balance my investment of time and learn more about the creative aspect of art. I know that you will stretch me.

I tend to be a bit of an outlier and I think you would find that, as a student, I will push you as a teacher (in a good way). After taking your class I would be more confident to delve into online teaching myself. I used to be a high school math teacher and I’ve been toying with the idea for some time. It would be great to learn what it takes to be successful in teaching an online class. Your gift to me would keep on giving in that sense as well as affecting my direction as an artist.

I am interested in Exploration of Formal Design problems and Working in a Series II. I will be on a 7 day river trip in July and I’m sure you deal with people on vacation. If it is an issue the fall options may work better. I’m open to taking classes either time. I honestly think that you would have to look at my collection of series of work to help me decide if I would fit better in the part I or part II of both classes that I mentioned.

I feel confident about where I have gotten to on my own but I know getting on a bus with a bunch of artists to explore under your guidance would give my art a boost that I could not achieve on my own. My budget does extend to cover a class like yours and this is an amazing opportunity that I would miss out on otherwise.

wow! What a great offer… and my choice would be Design Elements. I work in fabric and tend to know what I like… but not why it works. There are some general “rules” that have stayed with me from high school art… use things in 3’s, be deliberate about centered or off-centered, set a focal point… but I suspect there are ‘elements’ that would help me make better choices! I would love to be part of your class!